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Illinois Public Media

Academy High Makes Its Case To Parents

May 19, 2016

Richard Odell is a consultant with Heads Up Educational Consulting. He also works at IMG Academy in Florida.

Brian Moline/Illinois Public Media

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 people attended a meeting at the I-Hotel in Champaign to learn more about a possible new private high school. Organizers say that Academy High would hold classes in the University of Illinois Research Park starting with the 2017-18 school year.

Attendees heard a presentation from Heads Up Educational Consulting, a group hired by Academy High organizers to help develop the school’s academic program and curriculum. Heads Up consultant Richard Odell says if Academy High is successful, it will raise the level of education for the entire community.

"We need to get all of education working collaboratively on behalf of all kids, not just kids for this school," Odell said, "and there are multiple examples around the country of ways for that to happen, and to be very, very effective for all kids.”

Presenters said Academy High would provide an academic setting that was more collegiate in nature, including a modified block schedule with longer periods. They say the curriculum will be academically challenging, with honors and A-P classes available.

Academy High organizers say applications for enrollment of 9th and 10th graders for the 2017-18 school year will be available at the school’s website beginning in October of this year. They say tuition will be comparable to other private high schools in the area. There is more information on Academy High online at academyhigh.org.